Folding table



Dec. 15, 1931. A KEHRER 1,836,668

FOLDING TABLE Dec; 15, 1931. KEHRER 1,836,668

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1 j L\\/\1JAjflLm/r Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. KEHBER, OFCOLUMBUS, OHIO FOLDING TABLE Application filed July 24, 1929. Serial No.380,668.

This invention relates to folding tables and has for one of its objectsto provide a table of this character with simple and novel means inconnection with the leg structure thereof which means may be manipulatedto extend the legs and support the table in an elevated osition withrelation to the floor and to colapse in order that the table may bestored away in a comparatively small space when not in use or whentransporting the table from one place to another.

With this object in view the table is formed to comprise legs connectedin pairs and which are hingedly or pivotally connected to the under sideof the table top, there being means provided for holding the legs in anextended position with relation to the top of the table when desired tosupport the table in an elevated position. Said means may also beactuated whereby the legs may be folded fiat against the under side ofthe table.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a table as specified,which is simple in its construction, strong, durable, compact whenfolded, conveniently set up when desired and comparatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction, combination of elements and arran ement ofparts hereinafter to be fully descri d and pointed out in the subjoinedclaim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the table formed in accordance with thepresent invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the table showingmore in detail means for holding the legs in an extended or collapsedposition,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 5 is a view looking towards the under side of the table with thelegs in a folded position,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5,and

Figure 7 is a detail view showing a slightly modified form of the tableconstruction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesthe top of the table which may be of any desired form or contour but foran illustration has been shown square in formation. Mounted on the underside of the table top 1 is a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingbars 2 which are arranged to extend substantially the full length of thetable top 1 and positioned near the longitudinal edges thereof.

Connected in pairs by means of braces 3 are leg members 4 which arepivotally connected as at 5 to the side bars 2 of the table. The bracemembers 3 are connected to the extreme upper ends of the leg members 4and arranged exteriorly thereof so that when the legs are in theirextended positions they act as stops and together with the bars 2 serveto brace the top 1 both longitudinally and transversely thereof and asthe brace members 3 andthe bars 2 are of the same depth a rectangularframe is produced which gives the table a substantial and finishedappearance. As the upper ends of the leg members 4 are flush against theunder side of the table top 1 and in order that the legs may be pivotedinwardly, the upper corner edge is mounted as at 6 thus permitting theinner surface of the legs 4 to lie flush against the under surface ofthe top 1 when in a folded position.

Pivotally connected near the upper ends of the leg members 4 andarranged between the same is a strap member 7 in the form of a U andhaving its outer ends pivoted as at 9 to the opposite surfaces 10 of theleg members. Arranged centrally of the under side of the table top andextending transversely thereof is a strip 11 fastened to the 190 top inany suitable manner and carrying brackets 12 at its outer end. Thesebrackets are formed to provide depending ears 13 to which the inner endsof a pair of links 14 are pivotally connected. The links 14 extend inopposite directions with respect to each other, and each has its outerend bent upwardly to form an angular portion 15 pivotally united as at16 to the inner portion of the arm 8 of the strap member 7. Over 1 lyingthe outer ends of the links 14 is a transtially U-shaped strap memberarranged beverse section 17 of the strap member 7, which thus forms astop and prevents the hinge joint between the strap 7 and the links Mfrom breaking in a downward direction, but will permit the same to breakupwardly to eifect the collapse of the leg member To prevent accidentalcollapse of the leg member 10 the construction of the links A- and thestrap 7 is such that by springing the same the pivots 16, when the legmembers are in their extended positions, will be positioned slightlybelow the pivots located at the outer ends of the links 15 and the strap7, should a line be drawn through said pivots as indicated by the linesA and B in Figure 3. Thus it will be seen the leg members will be heldrigid in their ext-ended positions and notcollapsed merely by an inwardforce upon the legs, and l'IlOfuOVQl', due to the fact that each 01" thetable legs has a link connected adjacent thereto joined by transversemembers undue side movement or buckling of the links is prevented shouldthe table legs be subjected to side or inward strain.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the leg members, it is merelynecessary for the operator to exert an upwardforce on the transversesection 17, causing the links 15 on the strap 7 to fold up upon eachother and to swing the leg members inwardly under the top of the table.

In order that the legs of a high table can be folded so that the samewill overlap one another and yet lie parallel with the under side of thetable as disclosed in Figures 5 and 6,.one set of legs may be positionedin a plane below that of the other set. This offset relation of pivotsis shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. 7

In a modified form of the invention disclosed in Figure 7 wherein thetable is of considerable length, separate strips may be provided on theunder side of the table for carrying the brackets to which the innerends of the links l l are connected.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that a folding table has been provided whichis of an extremely simple and durable construction, reliable in itsoperation and one which can be readily and quickly erected and collapsedwhen desired to such ize that the same can be stored away in acomparatively small space when not in use.

Although I have shown and described the preferred form and arrangementof parts, yet it will be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction can be had from time to time which will fairly fall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is A folding table comprising a top, two pairs of endlegs hinged to said top, substantween the legs comprising a pair andhaving its free ends hinged thereto near the upper ends thereof, a pairof links pivoted at their inner ends to the under side of said top andthe outer ends pivotally connected to said strap, the outer ends of saidlinks being bent upwardly and arranged within said. strap member so thatthe cation of the U-shaped strapwhich connects the ends thereof willoverlie the links when the legs are in their extended poistion andprevent the connection between said strap and links from breaking in adownwarc direction, the arrangement of the pivots between the strap andthe links being such as to permit the strap and the links to spring topositions holding the legs in their zztended' positions as well as intheir position of collapse. i

in testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH A. KEHRER.

